PORTUGAL: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS LISBON 000633 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/CT: RHONDA SHORE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC EFIN KCRM KHLS PINS PREL AEMR PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: 2009 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM REF: STATE 109980 ¶1. The text of Embassy Lisbon's 2009 Country Report on Terrorism follows: Portugal Portugal worked proactively with other nations to combat terrorism and disrupt funding for terrorist groups. Portugal does not have any indigenous terrorist groups, therefore the legal system and law enforcement focus is on dissuading international groups from establishing operations on its soil. Portuguese and American officials shared counterterrorism information effectively, including information on threat assessments and terrorist operative activities. In cooperation with other European Union partners, the Portuguese government continued to participate actively in ongoing EU efforts to remove institutional barriers to cooperation on counterterrorism. In September 2008, the Government of Portugal created a new Secretary General for Internal Security, a move designated to facilitate communication between the Judicial Police (FBI-equivalent),Public Security Police (national uniformed police),and the National Republican Guard (paramilitary police force). As a result, the distinct law enforcement agencies were able to share information about terrorism investigations more effectively. In December 2008, the Portuguese Foreign Minister sent a letter to his EU counterparts stressing the need to close the Guantanamo detention camp and encouraging them to consider taking Guantanamo detainees as a "clear signal of (European) willingness to assist the U.S. government to resolve the issue . . . ." In August 2009, Portugal accepted two Guantanamo detainees for resettlement. During 2009, Portugal contributed approximately 145 Portuguese troops that were deployed in Afghanistan in support of ongoing International Security Assistance Force and NATO operations, including a C-130 transport aircraft with a supporting crew of 42 personnel on a three-month mission to support Afghan elections in August. As a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), Portugal continued to comply with requirements in the VWP law related to information sharing and other law enforcement and counterterrorism cooperation. This cooperation was further enhanced by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. ¶2. Embassy point of contact is Mario Fernandez (unclassified email: FernandezMA2@state.gov). For more reporting from Embassy Lisbon and information about Portugal, please see our Intelink site: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/portal:port ugal BALLARD